Manchester Review 13th Oct

[King Of Kings]

Manchester city is the place" crooned iconic legend Ian McCulloch much to the delight of a Mancunian crowd. Less than a minute later he balanced out the nod to Liverpool's city rivals with a name check closer to home. "Take a walk on Merseyside" blasted the Liverpudlian. The Scouse contingent in the Manchester Ritz hollered in appreciation.

Three decades after forming Echo and the Bunnymen can still draw a crowd. Last night was sold out and as the cheers during an extended version of the band's 1997 hit Nothing Ever Lasts Forever demonstrated people travel from all over to see them.

The post-punk band are at the start of a Transatlantic tour that will see them take in over 25 dates on both sides of the Atlantic before Christmas. If last night's performance is anything to go by the Bunnymen's loyal legion of fans are in for treat. Mac and the lads were on fine form.

The Bunnymen know how to create a mood. As Georgian chants rang around the venue and smoke engulfed the stage dark silhouettes emerged. McCulloch's figure is unmistakeably cool. Even his shadow oozes style and class.

Guitarist Will Sergeant took up his usual side of stage position.

With a monotonous "hello" the band launched into "Going Up" and then "Show of Strength". A pair off their 1981 album Heaven Up Here. The perfect songs to compliment the moody stage set up.

The Bunnymen command a mixed following. It would be fair to say most in there will know them from their 80's heyday - they threatened on more than one occasion to break through into the mainstream - but there was also a fair smattering of younger folk.

A healthy mixture of music types (t-shirts on parade ranging from The Fall to The Clash to the Hacienda), ageing McCulloch wannabes (it's all in the hair), couples, football casuals, students and just ordinary people.

If any of the gathered didn't know the first two songs it's a safe bet they would have recognised the opening to Rescue. One of The Bunnymen's more well known tracks.

During this four minute burst of indie-pop the on-stage blackness was broken when a video was projected onto a backdrop behind the five piece.

It remained throughout showing grainy home videos of nothing in particular and the odd kaleidoscope pattern. It did however manage to coax the incredibly insular Sergeant into looking up on more than one occasion.

Their 10th studio album (11th if you included the Ian McCulloch-less Reverberation) was released on Monday. Titled The Fountain, McCulloch has described it as "one of the best we've made".

The first taster from it came six songs in. "Do You Know Who I am?" fitted perfectly in between the chirpy Stormy Weather and old favourite Seven Seas.

Bands are often criticised for playing too many new songs at gigs. Last night there could be an argument the Bunnymen played too few songs from the new album.

On a tour that is intended to promote their latest offering they only went onto play two more tracks off it; The Shroud of Turin and the single I Think I Need It To.

But who can blame them. When you've got a back catalogue spanning over thirty years, and more importantly a back catalogue that would stand up to pretty much any band in existence choosing a set list must be a nightmare.

The likes of The Killing Moon and The Cutter are ever present favourites and the aforementioned Nothing Ever Lasts Forever was, as always, interspersed with Lou Reed's Wildside, Don't Let Me Down and Midnight Hour,

It was at this point a man standing next to me uttered "I'll never tire of watching these".

As the band rounded off the night playing Lips Like Sugar during a second encore it's safe to say most, if not all present, would surely agree.





Set List:

Going up,
Show of strength,
Rescue,
Villiers Terrace,
Stormy weather,
Do you know who I am?,
Seven Seas
Dancing Horses
Shroud of Turin,
The Disease,
All that Jazz,
Silver,
Back of Love,
The Killing Moon
The Cutter,

Encore 1:
I think I need it to
Nothing every lasts forever


Encore 2:
Lips Like Sugar

[Dave Smith]

Would say Shoud of Turin was Forgotten Fields and wow both Going Up and Show of Strength opened HUH..........journo's eh?

[Scouser]

Manchester city is the place" crooned iconic legend Ian McCulloch much to the delight of a Mancunian crowd. Less than a minute later he balanced out the nod to Liverpool's city rivals with a name check closer to home. "Take a walk on Merseyside" blasted the Liverpudlian. The Scouse contingent in the Manchester Ritz hollered in appreciation.

Three decades after forming Echo and the Bunnymen can still draw a crowd. Last night was sold out and as the cheers during an extended version of the band's 1997 hit Nothing Ever Lasts Forever demonstrated people travel from all over to see them.

The post-punk band are at the start of a Transatlantic tour that will see them take in over 25 dates on both sides of the Atlantic before Christmas. If last night's performance is anything to go by the Bunnymen's loyal legion of fans are in for treat. Mac and the lads were on fine form.

The Bunnymen know how to create a mood. As Georgian chants rang around the venue and smoke engulfed the stage dark silhouettes emerged. McCulloch's figure is unmistakeably cool. Even his shadow oozes style and class.

Guitarist Will Sergeant took up his usual side of stage position.

With a monotonous "hello" the band launched into "Going Up" and then "Show of Strength". A pair off their 1981 album Heaven Up Here. The perfect songs to compliment the moody stage set up.

The Bunnymen command a mixed following. It would be fair to say most in there will know them from their 80's heyday - they threatened on more than one occasion to break through into the mainstream - but there was also a fair smattering of younger folk.

A healthy mixture of music types (t-shirts on parade ranging from The Fall to The Clash to the Hacienda), ageing McCulloch wannabes (it's all in the hair), couples, football casuals, students and just ordinary people.

If any of the gathered didn't know the first two songs it's a safe bet they would have recognised the opening to Rescue. One of The Bunnymen's more well known tracks.

During this four minute burst of indie-pop the on-stage blackness was broken when a video was projected onto a backdrop behind the five piece.

It remained throughout showing grainy home videos of nothing in particular and the odd kaleidoscope pattern. It did however manage to coax the incredibly insular Sergeant into looking up on more than one occasion.

Their 10th studio album (11th if you included the Ian McCulloch-less Reverberation) was released on Monday. Titled The Fountain, McCulloch has described it as "one of the best we've made".

The first taster from it came six songs in. "Do You Know Who I am?" fitted perfectly in between the chirpy Stormy Weather and old favourite Seven Seas.

Bands are often criticised for playing too many new songs at gigs. Last night there could be an argument the Bunnymen played too few songs from the new album.

On a tour that is intended to promote their latest offering they only went onto play two more tracks off it; The Shroud of Turin and the single I Think I Need It To.

But who can blame them. When you've got a back catalogue spanning over thirty years, and more importantly a back catalogue that would stand up to pretty much any band in existence choosing a set list must be a nightmare.

The likes of The Killing Moon and The Cutter are ever present favourites and the aforementioned Nothing Ever Lasts Forever was, as always, interspersed with Lou Reed's Wildside, Don't Let Me Down and Midnight Hour,

It was at this point a man standing next to me uttered "I'll never tire of watching these".

As the band rounded off the night playing Lips Like Sugar during a second encore it's safe to say most, if not all present, would surely agree.





Set List:

Going up,
Show of strength,
Rescue,
Villiers Terrace,
Stormy weather,
Do you know who I am?,
Seven Seas
Dancing Horses
Shroud of Turin,
The Disease,
All that Jazz,
Silver,
Back of Love,
The Killing Moon
The Cutter,

Encore 1:
I think I need it to
Nothing every lasts forever


Encore 2:
Lips Like Sugar

So basically the same old setlist Ive seen a hundred times with a couple of crap new songs thrown in. I'll give that a miss thanks.

[Dr Cheese]

The "back catalogue spanning over thirty years" line always makes me laugh when the bulk of the setlist actually spans about 5 or 6!
Does anyone know any other band that just keeps churning out the same old setlist year after year? I mean what's the point going to see them these days, really?

[the ghost of guitarplayer]

I suppose some people still go as they think it's their duty as a Bunnymen fan, the same way that they'd trundle down to the local footie club even when they are loosing (or winning). Others, it's a night out watching a band and having a bit of live music for the night. I think if the Bunnymen were playing on my doorstep (a couple of miles max though), I'd go. Would still beat a night in watching X-Factor or Eastenders, even if I did get a strange sense of deja vu.

[Dr Cheese]

Deja vu? I think Mac has a severe case of Groundhog Day. Even if they were on my doorstep I wouldn't be going (they are and I'm not), I can visualise each song and the performance that goes with it and I just can't be bothered shelling out for exactly the same gig year after year.

[shadows on the trees]

Ten albums in 30 years doesn't seem like much... The Beatles put out 14 LPs between 1963 and 1970, Rush has released 19 albums since 1974. There is no need to mention The Church again in this context...

I love the Bunnymen for their old stuff but I wouldn't mind seeing them at least once.

[black francis]

I've been tempted to end my month long ban on Bunnymen shows this month but not even Dave Smith's passionate defense can thaw my frozen heart.

[Voodoo Billy]

I suppose some people still go as they think it's their duty as a Bunnymen fan, the same way that they'd trundle down to the local footie club even when they are loosing (or winning).

Didn't quite get this one. So you think they should only go to the footie when their teams draw?

[Zimbo]

I was there and it was the best gig ive seen them at.

Saw them at Manc Academy in 2005, Liverpool Academy in 2007 and then last night.

Looked like they actually wanted to do the gig and the sound and vocal quality was great compared to his last apperances.

No With a Hip, Over The Wall or Ocean Rain thou :(

Going Up is from Crocodiles.

[fat cherry]

i know what you mean ghostie but its worth remembering the vast majority of people who go dont post on here or the other place - otherwise there'd be the front row and nobody else wouldnt there? I decided ages ago i couldn't be arsed going all the way to liverpool - when they anounced it just after christmas (ish) - to hear the same old stuff but then they announced the oxford gig and I thought, well why not, wont even have to get the bus home. whn they did cornbury the other year (last year) the audience was obviously just full of the 'nice' people that go there but they stormed it. maybe i go with the expectation that they'll just surprise me one more time - dont really need to hear dancing horses & and a ropey killing moon over and over again.

[Mr.Sparkle]

I was there and it was the best gig ive seen them at.

Saw them at Manc Academy in 2005, Liverpool Academy in 2007 and then last night.

Looked like they actually wanted to do the gig and the sound and vocal quality was great compared to his last apperances.

No With a Hip, Over The Wall or Ocean Rain thou :(

Going Up is from Crocodiles.

I think the current lineup sound really tight on the new album, not too surprising they sound really good live right now. Still doesn't excuse the setlist. That's like 10 years now with the same songs. In a way, just like Ian recycling the same cliched lyrics for 10 years, it's sort of amazing. But not in a good way.

[In The Margins]

They're allegedly doing "A Promise" in Glasgow.

From EATB Twitter:

Echo & The Bunnymen will be providing a treat for Glasgow fans tonight by playing A Promise with James from Glasvegas.

And a soundcheck video, too.

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It sounds like it's going to be a glorious mess. If they did A Promise on the U.S. tour, would that be enough to get you to the shows BF?

[the ghost of guitarplayer]

Hmm. Hearing A Promise live would be probably be worth the ticket price alone for me, but not to go to Glasgow. Who is doing the higher vocals. Mac? No way.

[Dr Cheese]

A completely revamped setlist would get me to go but not throwing me a bone with ONE different song in there, are they taking the piss or what?